Sindh is the second largest province of Pakistan, though ruled by the so-called democratic party, Pakistan Peoples Party, along with the support of powerful and influential families, holding large acres of land, influence in politics, dictates bureaucracy, and overrides law enforcement agencies. These thirty-plus families or feudal dynasties have ruled over the masses under the cloak of democracy, turning it into a personal fiefdom or enterprise. Their dominance spreads from police to the courts, and from local administration to the provincial and national assemblies of the country. 

Pakistan People’s Party has been governing Sindh for the last 18 years uninterruptedly, which chants the slogans of democracy but safeguards the 30-plus big families that have taken the public hostage through application of various methods; intimidation, threatening and torturing, systematic tactics; using police and the local administration, and surprisingly cultural manipulation; wearing Sindhi topi and ajrak. Ultimately, power has remained in the hands of these big families, entitled to their tribes as sardars, waderas, and landlords, treating districts as personal fortresses where no one can challenge their writ, and impunity; citizens as their slaves or petty lifeless subjects, who have no basic rights or freedom in their fortresses.

The 30-plus families are the Bhuttos, Zardaris, Talpurs, Jatos, Shahs, Mahars, Magsis, Chandios, Bhiranis, Jakhranis, Shirazis, Jamalis, Shoras, Bhayos, Khuhros, Abbassis, Abros, Lunds, Shaikhs, Memons, Ghabols, Legharis, Wassans, Dharejos, Soomros, Maliks, Siyals, Junejos, and many others. Among these families, either one bigwig is sitting in the provincial or another in the national assemblies. Shockingly, their next generations or pampered sons are trained to inherit their father’s political and social legacies. Supposedly, the Information Minister in the present Sindh cabinet, Sharjeel Inam Memon’s son Rawal Sharjeel, runs all political and social activities on his father’s behalf in Hyderabad with no official position, dictating to the local administration, police, and other government........

© Paradigm Shift